Goodrich -The bridge is open, the detour signs are down? but the future of the traffic light at M-15 and East Hegel remains in question.
The light at the intersection was installed by the Michigan Department of Transportation at a cost of $60,000 from state and federal dollars for approximately 90 days while the Goodrich bridge was being repaired.
Now that the project is done, several area residents, including Pete Morey, village council street administrator, say the light should stay for safety reasons.
‘My concern right now is that people have gotten used to that traffic light over the last 90 days, and most of the people I have talked to say they love the light. Also, when MDOT does another study under the flashing light and it doesn’t meet with MDOT’s criteria, then they will take it out,? said Morey.
Michael Hemmingsen, transportation service center manager for MDOT, said the light will not be removed, but will be changed to a flashing yellow light sometime soon and, in order for the signal to stay operational, it must meet their criteria.
‘Before the signal was installed for the bridge construction, it did not meet the criteria for a signal. In the spirit of partnering, we said we would take another look at the signal after the bridge construction was done to see if it would meet the criteria it needs to make it fully operational. In order to do that, we need to put the light back in yellow flash mode to see if it meets that criteria,? said Hemmingsen.
The criteria used nationwide, Hemmingsen said, is based on three things: volume, delays and crash history. He said the signal at that intersection does not meet that criteria.
‘This criteria was established because signals are emotional issues which can cloud sound engineering judgment,? said Hemmingsen.
Karl Ziegler, Goodrich United Methodist Church pastor, said he expects there will be an increase of traffic at the intersection once their senior housing project has been built.
Waiting for final confirmation of funding from the Michigan State Housing Development Authority (MSHDA), Ziegler said he is expecting to break ground in the spring of 2008 and has commitments of 52 interested parties out of the 58 units the senior apartment complex will house.
‘We expect a total of 100 residents and it’s my personal opinion that a light is needed there as we significantly increase the number of seniors using that intersection,? said Ziegler.
He said he also believes the visual drop off from the hill, which takes traffic down the hill going north, creates a short visual distance for anyone in the intersection, which he believes is below the criteria for a safe intersection.
Morey said the village council recently OK’d 30 3-acre lots for the housing development. He said between the housing development and the senior center, there will be more traffic in the future.
‘Why not just leave the light there, people are used to it now. If MDOT decides to reinstall the light later because the intersection has more traffic, it will cost another $60,000,? said Morey.
To express concerns regarding the traffic light at M-15 and Hegel Road, call U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow (202) 224-4822; State Rep. David Robertson (517) 373-1780; State Senator Deb Cherry (517) 373-1636; U.S. Rep. Dale Kildee (202) 225-3611; or MDOT Director Michael Hemmingsen (810) 653-7470.